Grading Penn State’s 30-13 win over Illinois; fans confused by Gus Johnson’s lack of enthusiasm, and more

Today’s Penn State football news headlines feature report cards from the Lions’ road win over Illinois, plus a look back at the FOX broadcast team and lead man Gus Johnson’s relative lack of enthusiasm on the call.

Penn State’s defense was “superb,” PennLive’s Bob Flounders wrote in putting together his report card for Illinois. That effort, highlighted by five takeaways, commanded an A grade from him, but the other areas were mixed. Ben Jones from StateCollege.com landed on an overall grade of C for the Lions’ effort in a 30-13 win with better marks on defense, special teams and in the coaching department as Penn State improved to 3-0.

FOX televised the Penn State-Illinois game as its “Big Noon Kickoff” with Johnson on the play-by-play and Joel Klatt providing color. One consistent observation from many was that Johnson didn’t have his usual gusto announcing the game, writes Sean Keeley for Awful Announcing, prompting some to ask if he was OK. He had no “juice” on Penn State’s five turnovers of the game, which one Twitter/X user compiled into one clip with Johnson’s reactions:

Those headlines and more highlight today’s Penn State football news roundup:

Penn State-Illinois viewers confused by Gus Johnson’s lack of enthusiasm: Keeley [Awful Announcing]

Handing out the grades following Penn State’s 30-13 win over Illinois: Jones [StateCollege.com]

Top Takes as No. 7 Penn State opens B1G play with a win at Illinois: Brennan [Lions247]

Penn State post-mortem: Allar’s education just beginning: Gross [Lancaster Online]

Penn State Market Report: Best secondary in America?: Gross [Lancaster Online]

The Good, The Bad & The Ugly: Reviewing Penn State football’s 30-13 road win over Illinois: Sauber [Centre Daily Times]

First look: Iowa at Penn State odds and lines: Shanks [Sportsbook Wire]

Penn State notebook: Nittany Lions show they can win ugly: Thomas [The Daily Item]

Penn State mailbag: O-line concerns begin to surface, a young WR to watch, more: Flounders [PennLive]

‘Now is now’: Penn State’s Daequan Hardy makes instant impact in return at Illinois: Gallen [Lions247]

MMQB – About those wide receivers: Lucia [Black Shoe Diaries]

Big Ten superlatives: Week 3: Bennett [Black Shoe Diaries]

Position grades: Illinois: Aydin [Black Shoe Diaries]

Penn State’s post-Illinois report card: Doebler [Onward State]

Premium articles ($):

Penn State report card for Illinois: Superb ‘D’, solid special teams do the trick in Champaign: Flounders [PennLive]

Penn State can’t be upset with 30-13 road win at Illinois, but can hardly be satisfied either | Jones [PennLive]

Is Iowa ready for the Penn State White Out? Lions’ pass ‘D’ stepping up, more storylines: Flounders [PennLive]

Penn State-Illinois final thoughts: Nick Singleton staying patient amid big play drought: McGonigal [PennLive]

Penn State’s 5 who thrived vs. Illinois: Coziah Izzard’s returns gives ‘D’ another power player inside: Flounders [PennLive]

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